Just to add in..
I tested all the following scopes:
-Athlon Argos BTR
-Arken SH4
-Athlon Ares BTR
-XTRIII
On the budget side, I still think it’s hard to beat the Arken. I love the FOV and the reticle. Plus the turrets are great.
The Athlon Argos is a good starter, but will leave you with more to be desired later down the line that you’d want to upgrade after looking behind other glass. Nothing wrong with it, you would probably upgrade down the line.
The Athlon ares is a big step up from the Argos. And in line for the Arken for me. The glass is better than the Argos and the Arken, but I just wasn’t digging the FOV after coming off an Arken and later switching to the XTR. It’s a great scope granted I got a Gen 1, but it’s definitely a step up and the glass is great for what it is.
The Arken has been the longest scope I’ve been behind so I hope I’m not being biased. But the FOV is amazing. I genuinely don’t know why I like seeing more than just the target. Maybe it’s preference. Plus the Arken has a great reticle and great turrets. When you get the scope it’s pretty beefy but I think that’s something I liked in the end. The glass isn’t as sharp as the Ares or ETR but for it’s money, I think it’s probably the best value scope, especially what it’s running for now. This would be my personal go to budget scope.
The XTRIII is just amazing. This was my step up to an “end all scope”. The glass is amazing, the turrets, FOV. This was my “big” purchase scope where it’s considered to me a more refined Arken. Turrets are good and the texturing is very aggressive. So now this is my go to scope as it’s everything I like/want, but enhanced.
So to sum it up.
Your scope of choice clearly depends on your budget and use. If I had a limited budget, I’d got with an Arken, no questions asked. Only speaking from my experience with the SH4. It really is hard to beat this scope at its current price point. Then if I’m going to upgrade from there, I would skip out on the Ares and go straight for the XTRIII. Again the Ares was great, but it wasn’t perfect for me and I wouldn’t want to waste time on the upgrade train.
Just my two cents..